16.886 Human Factors for Autonomous Formation Flying Mary(Missy) cummings Humans and Automation division aeronautics astronautics Massachusetts Institute of Technology
16.886 Human Factors for Autonomous Formation Flying Mary (Missy) Cummings Humans and Automation Division Aeronautics & Astronautics
Formation Flight Basics Section v, division differences The tighter the formation the higher the workload Implications for system management Wingman uses significantly more fuel Formation flights account for 14 percent of all midairs U.S. Navy photo 叫h
Formation Flight Basics • Section v. division differences • The tighter the formation, the higher the workload – Implications for system management • Wingman uses significantly more fuel • Formation flights account for 14 percent of all midairs U.S. Navy photo
Autonomous Formation Flying in Action Keeping Position http://www.dfrc.nasagov/gallerY/movie/aff/html/em-0081-01.html Refueling httpwww.dfrc.nasagov/gallery/movie/aar/html/em-0053-01.html 叫h
Autonomous Formation Flying in Action Keeping Position • http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Movie/AFF/HTML/EM-0081-01.html Refueling • http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Movie/AAR/HTML/EM-0053-01.html
Position issues Wing must stay within 10% of leads wingspan for 30% fuel savings(Proud et al., 1999) Military:C-17:171,C-141:160,C-5:223 Commercial: 747:196.A300: 147 Previous flights 2001: 55(two F/A-18S)(12% savings) 2003:200(DC-8/F/A-18)(29% savings) Pilots most sensitive to changes in roll The most significant vortex disturbance when positioned for maximum drag reduction is a strong rolling moment effect (Hansen et al., 2002) Vortex turbulence generally avoided Step up and down 叫h
Position Issues • Wing must stay within 10% of lead’s wingspan for 30% fuel savings (Proud et al., 1999): – Military: C-17: 171’, C-141: 160’, C-5: 223’ – Commercial: 747: 196’, A300: 147’ • Previous flights – 2001: 55’ (two F/A-18s) (12% savings) – 2003: 200’ (DC-8/F/A-18) (29% savings) • Pilots most sensitive to changes in roll – The most significant vortex disturbance when positioned for maximum drag reduction is a strong rolling moment effect (Hansen et al., 2002) • Vortex turbulence generally avoided – Step up and down
Spatial disorientation a false perception of ones position and motion with respect to the earth Sensory illusions Primarily due to transition between inside/outside scans Especially prominent in transition between VMC/MC in formation flying False horizons The leans are most commonly felt when flying formation on the wing in the weather or at night (Wright Patt) 叫h
Spatial Disorientation • A false perception of one’s position and motion with respect to the earth – Sensory illusions • Primarily due to transition between inside/outside scans • Especially prominent in transition between VMC/IMC in formation flying – False horizons – “The leans are most commonly felt when flying formation on the wing in the weather or at night (Wright Patt)